Chester County PA Archives Obituaries.....William H. RALSTON, 1961 File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Barbara Rightnour [barright@comcast.net] ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/pafiles.htm ************************************************ Daily Local West Chester Pennsylvania November 28 1961 The Rev William H Ralston, S T M pastor of Calvary Lutheran Church, West Chester since 1943 died of a heart attack at Chester County Hospital last night. Mr Ralston suffered the heart attack while driving back from a visit to a prospective member of the church. He drove into D'Amico's Service Station, 1262 Wilmington Pike, Westtown, and asked to be taken to the hospital. Lawrence Eachus, Boothwyn, the attendant on duty at the station, rushed the minister to the hospital leaving the station unattended. Born in Pottstown area, Mr Ralston was the son of the late Ralph W Ralston Sr and Bertha Gonder Ralston. He was graduated from North Coventry High School. The Hill School, Pottstown, and held a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Muhlenberg College, Allentown. He received his Bachelor of Divinity degree from the Lutheran Theological Seminary, Philadelphia, in 1943 and a Master of Scared Theology from the same seminary in 1945. He also studied music at the Philadelphia Conservatory of Music for four years under private instructors. Calvary Lutheran Church was Mr Ralston's first charge. At that time the church was located at New and Union Streets. The membership was less than 100. The church now has about 900 members and moved to its present location, New Street and Rosedale Avenue in 1957. Mr Ralston was the driving force behind the building campaign for the new church. In his message at the church dedication ceremonies, Mr Ralston wrote, "A Church is valuable only as it is used and serves its people." He followed this creed through his many activities both in the church and community. He was a former president of the West Chester Ministerium and an active member in the county ministerium. Refusing offers of the church board for an assistant minister, Mr Ralston spent much of his time in civic affairs. He was a member of West Chester Kiwanis Club and the Masons. An athlete at high school and college where he played football and baseball, he kept his interest in athletics, attending local athletic events when his busy schedule permitted. He was also a member of the Whitford Country club. Survivors include his wife Alice E Newton Ralston, and a son Mark W, both at home, 800 S New Street, West Chester and a brother Ralph w Ralston, Downingtown. Ralston – In West Chester, Pa, on November 27th 1961, the Reverend William H Ralston, husband of Alice Newton Ralston in his 44th year. Relatives and friends are invited to attend the services at Calvary Lutheran church, Rosedale Avenue and New Street, West Chester, on Saturday December 2nd at 2 o'clock p m. Interment at Highland Memorial Park, Pottstown. Friends may call at the Church on Friday from 1 p m to `0 p m. The family request no flowers. Remembrances may be made in the form of contributions to the Pastor Ralston Memorial Fund. Daily Local West Chester Pennsylvania December 4 1961 WILLIAM H RALSTON Funeral services for the Rev William H Ralston 800 S New Street, West Chester, husband of Alice Newton Ralston and pastor of the Calvary Lutheran Church, West Chester, were conducted Saturday at 2 p m from the church. Dr Samuel E Kidd president of the Pennsylvania Lutheran Ministerium; Dr Henry B Luffbeery, the Rev Russell W Zimmerman and the Rev Julius Kish, officiated. Interment was at Highland Memorial Park, Pottstown, Pallbearers were the following Councilmen of Calvary Lutheran church; Howard Miller, Jacob Walters, Kenneth Burch, Earl Reese, John Dries, Robert Taylor, Dr William Beyer, Henry Skillman, William McKendry, John Gutscher, William George, Herbert Smith, George Pfahler, Horace Leith, Samuel Deininger.